World leaders came together virtually on Monday to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, as the coronavirus pandemic and tensions between the United States and China challenge the effectiveness and solidarity of the 193-member world body.

As COVID-19 began to spread around the world earlier this year, forcing millions of people to shelter at home and dealing a devastating economic blow, countries turned inward and diplomats say the United Nations struggled to assert itself.

This year's theme was “The Future We Want, the UN We Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism.” Secretary General António Guterres began by telling delegates there is a “surplus of multilateral challenges, and a deficit of multilateral solutions.” He also stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has “laid bare the world’s fragilities,” and that current challenges can only be addressed “together.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping also told delegates that promoting equality was paramount to the future of the U.N., saying it is “imperative that the representation and voice of developing countries be increased” so the U.N. can be balanced in “reflecting the interests and wishes of the majority of countries in the world.”

The one-day special event on Monday came ahead of the annual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations, which starts on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

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